Far too often when chief executives are ousted for poor performance, their companies lavish them with millions in bonuses and other compensation as they depart.

Shares slumped following disappointing data on American spending and European inflation, and the S.&P. 500 ended the third quarter down more than 14 percent.

The measure, supporting an expansion of the euro currency zone’s bailout fund for heavily indebted countries, passed following a bruising debate in Parliament.

A surprisingly strong increase in consumer prices, reported Friday, could hamper the bank’s effort to combat the debt crisis in the euro zone.

The government has proposed raising the limit to 80 m.p.h. from 70 on highways to shorten journey times and improve consumer sentiment.

The Securities and Exchange Commission report says the companies repeatedly failed to follow their own procedures, but it does not specify which companies.

The European Central Bank’s main concerns lie with the impact on the banking sector, which hold a lot of sovereign debt.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has raised the prospect of tapping the euro area’s expanding rescue fund to lower its own borrowing costs, as it seeks to win back economic sovereignty.

Regulators suspended some operations of Barclays Bank’s Japanese unit on allegations of violating short-selling rules; Barclays said the violation was the result of a technical error.

Shares slumped following disappointing data on U.S. spending and incomes and European inflation.

Wall Street also appeared headed for a weak opening, after new data suggested that the European Central Bank effort to combat the debt crisis could be hampered by rising prices.

The moves by Standard and Poor’s and Fitch added New Zealand to a lengthening line of developed economies that have had their credit profiles weakened by high debt and economic uncertainty.

Eye-popping severance packages thrive in spite of the measures put in place in the wake of the financial crisis to crack down on excessive pay.